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Carlo Ancelotti discussed his future with the Brazil national team beyond the 2026 World Cup as the legendary ex-Real Madrid boss revealed if he plans to stay as Selecao coach after the tournament is over. Ancelotti signed a one-year contract with CBF in the summer after leaving Los Blancos at the end of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign. He was replaced by Xabi Alonso at Santiago Bernabeu.

Ancelotti ready to extend his stay as Brazil boss

The Italian coach claimed that he would be willing to stay as Brazil manager beyond the 2026 World Cup if the CBF offered him an extension. In the summer, Ancelotti penned a one-year contract, which will run until the end of the Selecao's campaign in North America next year.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAncelotti is loved by Brazil stars

Brazil footballers have accepted Ancelotti's leadership in the national team, with stars like Bruno Guimaraes and Luis Henrique publicly stating that the Italian's "fatherly approach" has won over the entire squad. So far, under Ancelotti's tutelage, the five-time world champions have played four matches, out of which they won against Paraguay and Chile, drew against Ecuador and lost to Bolivia.  

What did Ancelotti say about his future?

Speaking to , the Italian coach said, "Yes, I wanted to coach the Brazilian national team (since 2023). Preparing for the World Cup for Brazil is something special. I signed a one-year contract. After the World Cup, everything is open. I think it was right at that time to sign a one-year contract. I have no problem if the CBF wants to continue. There's no problem. As I said, I'm very happy here, my family is happy too. We can think about it. We have time to talk about it, I have no problem continuing. It would be nice (to stay until 2030)."

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AFPWhen is Brazil playing next?

Brazil are scheduled to face Asian giants South Korea and Japan in friendly matches during the international break next month.

قضى أتلتيكو مدريد ليلة كارثية ومريرة عقب خسارته في الدقائق الأخيرة أمام ليفربول في المباراة التي جمعتهما مساء الأربعاء بالجولة الأولى بمرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وبعد تقدم روبرتسون ومحمد صلاح في ثلاث دقائق متتالية لصالح ليفربول، نجح ماركوس يورينتي أن يحرز هدفين متتاليين قبل أن يحطم فان دايك شباك الروخي بلانكوس بهدف قاتل في الدقائق الأخيرة.

وبحسب صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية فقد أثار هذا الهدف توتر الأجواء، ودخل الأرجنتيني دييجو سيميوني مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد في شجار مع عدد من الجمهور.

واضطر أفراد الأمن للتدخل لفض هذا الاشتباك بين بعض جماهير ليفربول ودييجو سيميوني، كما حاول الطاقم المعاون له الحيلولة دون تفاقم الأمر.

وقد اشتكى دييجو سيميوني من الإيماءات المهينة التي قام بها أحد الأشخاص من الصف الأول بالمدرجات، حيث أشار المشجع بأحد أصابعه نحوه (إشارة مهينة) وهو ما يعتبر في أنفيلد وفي إنجلترا بشكل عام أمر غير لائق خاصة لقرب مقاعد البدلاء من المدرجات.

وأفادت الصحيفة الإسبانية بأن المشجع نفسه سبق وأن استفز سيميوني أكثر من مرة خلال المباراة، حيث وجه له لفظا مهينا للغاية، في محاولة مستمرة من جانبه لإثارة غضب الأرجنتيني.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ردود أفعال جماهير ليفربول على تألق محمد صلاح أمام أتلتيكو مدريد: الأعظم في التاريخ.. امنحوه عقدًا مدى الحياة

وقد شرح دييجو سيميوني للحكم الرابع سبب تصرفه وردة فعله قبل أن يحصل على البطاقة الحمراء ويضطر لمغادرة الملعب غاضباً بشكل واضح، وحدثت المزيد من استفزازات العديد من المشجعين.

وقال سيميوني بعد اللقاء حول هذه الواقعة: “إنهم يتحدثون عن السيطرة على المباراة لكنهم يهينونك طوال المباراة من الخلف ولا يمكن فعل شئ لأنني المدرب، رد فعلي على الإهانة غير مبرر لكنك لا تعرف معنى 90 دقيقة من الإهانة دون توقف”.

وأضاف :”بالطبع عندما يسجل الخصم هدفاً، يتحول المرء ويستمر في إهانته ومع التوتر، ماذا يحدث، الحكم؟ أخبرني أنه فهم كلامي، لكني آمل أن يتمكن ليفربول من تحديد هوية الفاعل وسيكون لذلك عواقب”.

وواصل: “كانت المباراة بأكملها عبارة عن إهانات، ثم لافتة لكن حسناً، على أن أكون هادئاً وأتحمل كل شئ، إهانات وغير ذلك، لأنني في موقف حساس”.

وختم عن المباراة: “لم يحالفنا الحظ في الهدف الأول، أخرجنا بعض الشئ من اللقاء لكن بروح وجودة اللاعبين عدنا، يورينتي قدم مباراة رائعة، وعلى الرغم من أن ليفربول جيد جداً، كنا على الحافة حتى ترك هدف فيرجيل فان دايك مرارة، لكن خرجنا بروح معنوية عالية”.

Glamorgan closing in on big win after claiming three second-innings wickets

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2024Leicestershire’s international pair Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb battled hard to give their side a chance of saving the game, after Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram had continued his batting masterclass.Rahane was 47 not out and Handscomb unbeaten on 33, Leicestershire 144 for 3, trailing by 155, when bad light stopped play with 21.2 scheduled overs remaining.Both the Indian and Australian were dropped by Glamorgan legspinner Mason Crane, two of his three dropped catches coming off his own bowling, in moments which may come back to haunt the home side as they chase victory on the final day.That was after Glamorgan had declared on 550 for 9, with a lead of 299, Ingram unbeaten on a personal best 257, Crane getting his day off to a better start with 49 runs to his name.Glamorgan started the day in a strong position and soon set about building on those solid foundations, with Colin Ingram carrying on as he had done over the previous two days.Having already notched his first ever double century, the fastest Glamorgan player to 1,000 runs in a season, he notched his first ever 250, confidently progressing in serene fashion.He had good support from Crane who was one short of a well deserved half century when he was dismissed in one of the most unfortunate ways possible.Ingram hit the ball firmly back down the ground, bowler Rehan Ahmed got a fingertip to the ball which went on to hit the stumps at the bowler’s end before Crane could regain his ground.New Zealander Fraser Sheat hit a breezy 34 while Ingram mainly watched on, Ned Leonard had one nice boundary before the declaration came just before lunch with Glamorgan nine down, 299 runs ahead on the first innings scores.Ingram was 257 not out, having been on the field for all but one ball of the match, batting just three minutes short of ten hours, as Glamorgan added 119 runs to their total during the morning.Leicestershire had a mountain to climb when they came out to bat, with their opening bowler, Ian Holland, also opening the batting.Both sides needed patience and Rishi Patel and Holland withstood an impressive opening salvo from Timm van der Gugten and Fraser Sheat.It was Dan Douthwaite who made the breakthrough, nipping one back to trap Patel LBW. Ned Leonard got the ball to nip back even more sharply to bowl Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill.Van der Gugten got in on the act with one which lifted outside off stump and Holland tamely lobbed it to point where Billy Root to the catch.That brought Indian Ajinkya Rahane and Australian Peter Handscomb together, who were always likely to form the nub of the resistance.Glamorgan had their chances as Rahane gave two caught and bowled opportunities to Mason Crane when on 32, but the leg spinner put them both down, the first low to his left and the second sharp to his right.Handscomb was on 26 when he pulled Sheat firmly in the air to midwicket where once again it was the unfortunate Crane who spilled the chance.There was confusion over bad light at the end of the day, but the early finish was inevitable after the umpires tried to come back on for 10 balls only to be forced to call events off in the growing gloom.

If England and West Indies win
That will leave three teams – England, West Indies and South Africa – on four points each. West Indies’ huge win against USA means they will finish with a higher net run rate than South Africa if they beat them by any margin on Sunday night. So West Indies will qualify for sure with a win, regardless of the England-USA result.For England to go past South Africa’s NRR, the sum of margins of the two results will have to be 10 runs (assuming first-innings totals of 160). That means, if England win by 10 runs, they will go ahead on run rate even if South Africa lose in the Super Over. If the margin of result is under 10, South Africa will stay ahead and qualify with four points.If USA and South Africa win
South Africa will top the table with six points, while the other three teams will finish on two points each. If England lose in the Super Over chasing 160, West Indies will have to lose by 43 or more runs for their NRR to drop below that of England. If England lose by a bigger margin, West Indies will have more leeway, which means in such a scenario South Africa and West Indies are the likely semi-finalists.Related

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• How de Kock's local knowledge helped win the powerplay, and the match

USA’s poor run rate means they’ll need two huge results to stand any chance of finishing in the top two: they will first need to beat England by at least 56 runs (assuming a total of 160) to go past them on NRR, and then hope that West Indies lose by at least 91 runs for their run rate to drop below USA’s.If USA and West Indies win
In this case, West Indies and South Africa will qualify with four points, while England and USA will finish on two.If England and South Africa win
South Africa, with six points, and England, with four, will be the semi-finalists.

It would be fair to say that this season was something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended up ten points off Liverpool in the Premier League, failed to make a dent in the FA Cup, and, with better finishing, could have realistically been in a Champions League final.

However, while it’s easy to focus on the negative, there have been at least a few positives, such as the development and performances of Jurrien Timber, who seriously stepped up in the absence of Ben White.

The Dutchman is now unquestionably one of the manager’s best signings, and based on reports, it looks like he could soon have himself another younger version of the international.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other young talents Arsenal have been linked with in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Konstantinos Karetsas.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former is reportedly available for close to £80m this summer, and while that is a lot of money to spend on someone who is just 21 years old, he’s more than proven his ability at Crystal Palace and played a key role in their FA Cup triumph this year.

Karetsas, on the other hand, is a little harder to justify at a whopping £38m, as while he’s seriously impressed in Belgium this season, he is still just 17 years old, and that sort of money would probably be better off being spent on someone who could play for the team next year.

With that said, while these two youngsters are incredibly talented, neither one can be described as anything like Timber, unlike Jorrel Hato.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams incredibly interested in the Ajax star.

The report has revealed that Arsenal, alongside the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United, have already made contact to find out more information about a possible transfer.

However, on top of having to contend with some serious competition, Andrea Berta and Co would have to stump a fee of up to €50m to get their man, which is about £42m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but it is one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he’d be the club’s next Timber.

Why Hato would be Arsenal's next timber

Now, it might sound like a bold claim to suggest that a teenager from outside the top five leagues could develop into a full-back who was impeccable against Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League.

Yet, that is exactly what we are suggesting, and there are a number of reasons why.

Firstly, the Eridivise might not be one of the best leagues in Europe, but it’s only just outside the top five, sitting in sixth place, and crucially, Timber made his way to North London from the Netherlands.

In fact, not only did the Gunners’ ace join Arteta’s title challengers from the same country, but he did so from Ajax, which is where Hato is currently plying his trade.

Furthermore, the pair are both Dutch and on top of coming up through the Ajax academy, they also share the ability to play in more than one position, depending on what the manager wants and needs.

Left-Back

68

3

6

Centre-Back

41

1

3

Left Midfield

1

0

0

Centre-Back

170

9

6

Right-Back

82

4

5

Left-Back

22

1

1

Defensive Midfield

2

1

0

For example, we all know that Timber is at his best at right-back, but he’s already played at centre-back and left-back since moving to England, just as the in-demand youngster has primarily played at left-back in his career but is more than comfortable at centre-back as well.

Finally, it’s not just us who see the parallels, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 19-year-old gem as “Timber 2.0.”

Ultimately, he might not be cheap, but Hato looks destined to be a monster of a defender, and for that reason, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the club, as he could be their new Timber.

Arsenal targeting £80m "nightmare" who'd be more exciting than Zubimendi

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martin Zubimendi.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 10, 2025

This summer is a huge one for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager, needing to complete a huge overhaul of the squad if they are to compete at the top end of the Premier League next season.

His side have failed to deliver in the league throughout 2024/25, currently sitting in 15th position with just three outings remaining in the current campaign.

However, the Red Devils still have an opportunity to end the year with a trophy, potentially winning the Europa League against fellow English top-flight side Tottenham Hotspur.

Their tally of just 42 goals in their 35 league matches is the fifth-lowest in the division, highlighting the real need for attacking reinforcements throughout the off-season.

The hierarchy have already wasted no time in planning for the summer, with numerous attacking stars already emerging on their radar to help bolster Amorim’s front line.

An update on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been United’s main options in forward areas throughout 2024/25, but that could be about to change with a move for Matheus Cunha.

The Wolves talisman has notched 15 goals and six assists in the league this campaign, leading to the Red Devils entering talks to trigger the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause.

However, he could be joined at Old Trafford by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with Foot Mercato claiming the hierarchy are also in talks with his representatives over a summer switch.

It also goes on to state that the forward is also keen on a deal to move to the North West this summer, with parent side Napoli demanding €75m (£64m) for his signature.

Further into the report, it claims the Red Devils are the only English side willing to match his £200k-per-week demands, opening the door to a switch should the talks progress in the right direction.

Why United’s £64m target would be perfect with Amad & Cunha

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United in what has been a dismal season for the club, often producing the goods for Amorim’s side within the attacking areas.

The Ivorian has registered ten combined goals and assists since the 40-year-old back in November, missing a huge chunk of action due to his ankle issue, which sidelined him for just under three months.

The 22-year-old scored in stoppage time of the 4-3 defeat against Brentford last weekend, registering his first effort after returning from injury – hoping to play a huge role in the Europa League in the coming weeks.

Amad has often played in a central role behind the striker, potentially being partnered by Cunha in such a position and aiding Osimhen in the final third at Old Trafford.

When delving into his stats from this campaign, the 26-year-old has greatly impressed on loan at Galatasaray, highlighting the threat he will pose should he complete a switch to England.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by former Nigerian footballer Oghenekaro Etebo, has registered 24 goals in his 27 Süper Lig outings – sitting as the division’s top scorer.

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, averaging a staggering 7.3 shots taken per 90, along with 3.4 shots on target per 90 – having all the tools to impress in attacking areas for Amorim’s side.

Games played

27

Goals scored

24

Shots taken

7.3

Shots on target per 90

3.4

Shot-creating actions

3.8

Progressive carries

1.8

Aerials won

4.3

Aerial success

64%

He’s also won 4.3 aerial duels per 90, along with 1.8 progressive carries completed per 90, offering the side an all-round option at the top end of the pitch in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Whilst talks over a deal to take him to the Theatre of Dreams are still in their early stages, it would be an excellent transfer that would bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal.

£64m would be an expensive addition for the club given the current cost-cutting operation in place, but it’s one that would be worthwhile, potentially being the most important signing they could make in the coming months.

Shades of Pogba: Man Utd eager to sign £20m "freak of nature" this summer

Manchester United are interested in signing a £20m star who has shades of Paul Pogba.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Manchester United are preparing to beat Arsenal to the signing of a “lightning” quick striker who has 19 direct goal contributions this season, according to a new report.

Hojlund now a "damaged player" amid new striker links

United’s already dismal season sank even lower with a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday. The loss, sealed by a superb Pablo Sarabia free-kick in the 77th minute, leaves United level on points with Wolves – a team that, until February, had been battling relegation, with Wolves’ resurgence only underscoring United’s ongoing stagnation.

It was a disappointing display from Ruben Amorim’s side overall, but one player who particularly struggled was Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker failed to score once again, leaving him with just three goals in 28 Premier League appearances. Against Wolves, he managed only 13 touches, completed a single dribble, and lost eight duels.

Speaking after the game, Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals, described Hojlund as a “damaged player”.

Manchester United ready to move for Vlahovic

There’s no doubting that United need to upgrade on Hojlund this summer, and according to a new report from TuttoJuve, they already have a target in mind. The Italian outlet claims United are “ready to move” for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, who has registered 14 goals and five assists across all competitions this season.

United are reportedly considering a €45 million (£38 million) bid for the Serbian international, a long-standing target for Arsenal. However, Vlahović is said to be seeking an annual salary of €10 million (£8.6 million) to join Old Trafford—a wage that would place him among the club’s top earners.

Vlahović joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2022 and has since scored 55 goals in 139 appearances for the Old Lady. His strike rate mirrors the form he showed at Fiorentina, where he netted 49 times in 108 games.

Speaking about Vlahović back in 2021, former Fiorentina player and pundit Micah Richards was full of praise.

“I have watched him a couple of times now,” Richards told BBC Radio Five Live, per The Independent. “He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

He will play his final Test at the SCG like many others but ending a career unlike any other

Andrew McGlashan02-Jan-20243:51

Warner: ‘It’s been surreal to be here for 112 Tests’

David Warner has made it to Sydney. It has been one of the longer retirement build-ups and with Warner on Monday saying the end could have come at Lord’s, there was no guarantee that he was going to reach this point.It raised a few eyebrows when he laid out his preferred finish so clearly, although it wasn’t the ultimatum it was sometimes made out to be. There had been a window for a farewell 12 months ago after he had scored a double-century in his 100th Test against South Africa with the next game at the SCG. However, the lure of tours to India and England (which ultimately included the World Test Championship final) was strong.India was ended after two Tests due to injury then England, it appears, was a game-by-game scenario for much of the time. Half-centuries at Lord’s and The Oval were just enough to keep the wolf from the door. His 164 in Perth a few weeks ago meant his path was secure.”I know that people have been gunning for him for a period of time but for us internally, we’ve seen the great value in what he brings to the table, hence why we’ve kept picking him,” coach Andrew McDonald said last week in a clear indication that it has been the potential of what he still do that swayed things his way.Related

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• Hopes high for a competitive SCG Test in Warner's farewell

The uncertainty over who will replace him has been a reminder that, even with the blemishes on his overall record, he has been among the highest calibre of player. An all-format great, without doubt, if probably a notch below in Test cricket alone given his struggles overseas.”Personally, I think of him when he first came on the scene and really changed Test cricket,” Pat Cummins said. “Walking out there and taking the game away from the opposition in the space of an hour or two, and doing it for over a decade. His longevity is something that gets overlooked.”So now the final stage of his Test career will play out against Pakistan. “Warner week”, Cummins termed it. It’s rare, especially in Australian cricket, for a player to be able to map out their finale although the SCG has seen a few by dint of normally being the final Test of a summer.In 2007, the ground witnessed a trio do it when Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer bowed out. A few years earlier, Steve Waugh brought down the curtain in 2004 against India having set the ground alight the summer before with his last-ball-of-the-day hundred against England.”For Davey, his 112th Test match, the impact that he’s had on Australia, the way he’s gone about the game, has been incredible,” McGrath said ahead of the Test that continues to raise millions for the Jane McGrath foundation. “Hopefully he can go out on a high.”It’d be great to see him get a hundred here in front of his home crowd. It sort of takes me back to my final Test match with Justin Langer and obviously the late great Shane Warne. So many incredible memories there and just the way people came out and supported us during that final Test match, I’m hoping they do the same for Davey.”2:13

McGlashan: ‘The game will be less interesting without Warner’

Warner has divided opinion like few others. You just have to witness the fallout from Mitchell Johnson’s column a few weeks ago. But the ovation at the MCG last week sounded genuine, even if a quick glance at social media (not often a wise thing) suggested differences remained. On Monday he offered to have a beer with anyone who had an issue with him. There will still be those who won’t be sorry to see him go, but even they will struggle to make a case that he won’t be a loss to the spectacle of the game.What happened in 2018 will always be part of Warner’s story and there remains a chance that skeletons will reveal themselves in the future. At his retirement press conference he said he had become “disconnected” with the game beyond the bubble of international cricket.”Davey has been exemplary over the last four or five years,” Cummins said. “I think we’ve all grown up a lot over the last four or five years. Davey is a leader in our squad and he’s led the way along with a lot of other senior guys on how we want to behave on and off the field. He’s been outstanding.”Warner’s career has tracked a path through the most dramatic evolution the game has seen. He was ahead of the curve when he made his T20I debut before playing any first-class cricket. Whatever else will be said, it has been an extraordinary feat to compile the three-format returns he has managed.When he plays his next T20I, which could be against New Zealand in March, he will bring up 100 appearances in all formats. There’s a handful of others who will likely achieve that (Tim Southee is very close), but given the direction of travel for Test cricket Warner could be among the last of his kind.In Test cricket, his average has not been below 40 since December 2013. From then on, it peaked at 51.34 in early 2016. There was a period through 2014 and 2015 when few could touch him for a combination of volume and speed of scoring: across 23 Tests he averaged 61.30 with a strike rate of 83.09 including 11 centuries.”Warner has made the life of his dozen opening partners much easier with his belligerent style,” Greg Chappell wrote in a column for newspapers. “With a strike rate of 70, Davey took the opposition on. By doing that, he allowed his partners to go about their business sedately, without having to worry about the scoreboard. Doing the heavy lifting came naturally to him.”The scoops, the flicks, the ramps, Warner’s array of strokeplay was often breathtaking. And even amid the leaner times of the last few years he has still had it in him, as he showed in Perth when he scooped Shaheen Shah Afridi over fine leg.His record at home has been immense – an average of 58.11 going into his final outing – with his numbers abroad more modest. His overseas returns are propped up by his impressive performances in South Africa in 2014, in conditions which closely resembled home, and two handsome Tests in Bangladesh. In England (26.48), India (21.78), Sri Lanka (25.22) and the West Indies (26.90) it was a struggle. But even in some of those contests, he has been part of compelling storylines, not least Stuart Broad’s dominance of him in 2019.The level of fitness he has maintained is also worthy of note. It was his fielding against Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup that was a catalyst for Australia’s resurgence. There have been few quicker between the wickets than him, or a better judge of a run. And he has remained an excellent close catcher.But amid all the focus that Warner week will bring, this isn’t quite the end, although confirmation that he was also closing the chapter on ODI cricket brought it a step closer. There remains the unknown of what he will say when he finally hangs up the bat for good, what he is saving for the book and who should be worried. He will make a swift move into the commentary box. Still, whatever your views on him, he has never been dull. And however the closing stages of his career play out it’s unlikely to ever be so.

A quick run-through of the problem areas that each team has had to manage so far

Karthik Krishnaswamy and Gaurav Sundararaman24-Apr-202218:30

How have IPL’s new captains fared so far?

Every team wants to cover every base with quality options: top-order and middle-order batters, allrounders, keeper-batters, spinners, and fast bowlers who can bowl in the powerplay and the death. But with the total talent pool of IPL 2022 distributed among ten teams rather than eight, it hasn’t been possible for every team to cover every base. In fact, most have had to compromise on at least one area to strengthen another. Nearly every team, in short, has at least one identifiable hole. Some have been left gaping over the first half of the season, while others have been patched up to good effect. Here’s a quick run-through of the problem areas that each team has had to manage.